How to Switch

Advice about your Television Set and Aerial

If you currently receive just the traditional five UK channels (BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, Channel 4 and Five) - or only some of them - on any of your TV sets, you'll need to think about your options for getting digital TV. Every TV set you want to keep watching in your home will need to be converted or upgraded to digital.

Your options

You need to decide how you want to receive your TV signal:

• Through an aerial
• Through a satellite dish
• Through a telephone line
• Through an aerial and phone line
• Through cable

Please note, not all options are available in all areas. To see your options, use the DigitalUK website's postcode checker (External link).

Your aerial

A minority of homes will need a new aerial. As a rule of thumb, if you get a good analogue signal now, you should get a good digital signal.

If you have a poor signal, you should consider having your aerial checked by a local Registered Digital Installer. You can find a Registered Digital Installer in your area by visiting www.rdi-lb.tv. Alternatively, you can telephone 08456 50 50 50 for advice.

You can do an aerial test on televisions that have teletext. DigitalUK's Aerial test page (External link) gives guidance on how to test.

Your current TV

You don't need to replace your existing TV unless you want to, but to continue using an older set that does not have a digital box built in, you will need to puchase a digital box.

If you are considering buying a new television set, consider getting TV with an in-built digital box (a digital TV). Look for the 'digital tick' logo and scorecard which highlights things such as accessibility and energy efficiency.

Further advice

Further advice is available from DigitalUK's website.

Last modified: 14 November 2008